As Premier League champions or not, Arsenal are bracing themselves for a busy summer and reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed reports that Mikel Arteta and his men are keen on securing a Real Madrid youngster despite fierce competition from AC Milan.
The Gunners – in an attempt to break their trophy-winning hoodoo – splashed the cash in the summer of 2025. Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke were all signed in an attempt to bridge the gap between themselves and Liverpool.
It’s paid dividends, too, as they sit top of the Premier League with 12 matches left. But that doesn’t mean the revolution under Arteta is over and reports are suggesting they have their eyes on a certain youngster on the books at Santiago Bernabeu, who was born in 2006.
Decision is in the hands of Madrid amid strong interest from Arsenal
January was not the time for the table-toppers to open the cheque book and welcome new faces to the Emirates Stadium – but they are poised to return to the negotiating table come the summer. Among their targets is Real Madrid’s Victor Valdepenas.
Valdepenas, a centre-back by trade but someone who can also play on the left, has emerged as a potential target for the Gunners and Romano has confirmed that he is on the radar of Andrea Berta and co.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Romano wrote: “Arsenal keep tracking Victor Valdepenas since October, AC Milan also keen on Spanish talented defender. Real Madrid to decide in the next months on 19 year old’s future.”
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the journalist provided further details: “Victor Valdepenas, a 19-year-old defender from Real Madrid, is attracting significant interest. I told you in October, and I repeat it now, that he is on the list at Arsenal and is being closely monitored.
“Arsenal are following his situation carefully to understand whether an exit could be possible in the summer transfer window. There is also genuine interest from AC Milan. Milan are keen and are monitoring the player as well. So we have interest from both the Premier League and Serie A.
“In this case, nothing has been decided yet. It is still early and Real Madrid will need to make a decision in the coming months,” Romano continued before adding that Arsenal have been admirers since October.
“We also have to see the managerial situation at the club and what direction they want to take. But for sure, Arsenal have been tracking him since October, and now Milan are also in the race. It is shaping up to be a busy situation around Valdepenas.”
The likes of Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen provide fierce competition for the teenage sensation in the Spanish capital and he could push for minutes elsewhere.
Watch Romano’s update below (5:30 onwards):
Does an Arsenal move for Victor Valdepenas make sense?
From a personal point of view, if it’s game time that Valdepenas is looking for, maybe Arsenal isn’t the club for him. Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba are the best centre-back partnership in world football, while the likes of Cristhian Mosquera of Piero Hincapie provide brilliant cover.
Would there be a seamless transition into the first team picture for the 19-year-old? That remains to be seen but it’s clear why the Gunners are in the offing for his signature.
Victor Valdepenas rose through the ranks at Madrid and has broken into the first team in 2025/26, having made the solitary appearances for Los Blancos thus far.
Currently, his deal in his homeland runs until the summer of 2029 and Arsenal could face a financial stumbling block should they reach the latter ends of negotiations. Described as ‘a solid tackler’, Valdepenas is certainly one for the future and could be a shrewd addition.
